Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POURING DEVICE
This invention relates to an improved pouring device and to a container
including
such a pouring device, and in particular, though not exclusively, to a
container for
liquid.
A number of problems exist with presently known pouring devices and with
containers incorporating such pouring devices. For example, containers for
engine oil usually comprise a screw lid that screws on to a threaded neck of
the
container. In use, a user removes the lid from the container, positions the
neck of
the container over the filling point of a vehicle's engine and pours the oil
into the
engine. This type of container suffers from the disadvantage that oil can be
spilt
from the container before the neck is correctly positioned over the filling
point of
the engine and while the oil is being poured into the engine. This type of
container also suffers from the disadvantage that the rate of flow of oil from
the
container cannot be easily controlled.
Furthermore, known containers usually employ pouring devices that comprise two
or more separable parts, e.g. a body providing a pouring aperture and a
removable lid such as a screw lid. When the removable lid is removed from the
pouring device, the lid can be misplaced. Known containers also often require
the
use of two hands to facilitate pouring.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of
the
aforementioned problems in the prior art.
It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to
provide
a pouring device which, in use, does not require parts of the device to be
remotely
separated.
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It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to
provide
a container having a pouring device that allows a user to control the rate of
flow of
fluid or liquid through the pouring device.
It is a further object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to
provide
a container that allows a pouring device of a container containing fluid or
liquid to
be placed in a non-vertical pouring position, which can be, for example,
around
45° to the vertical, above a receiver for the fluid or liquid, before
any of the fluid or
liquid leaves the container.
In particular, it is an object of at least one embodiment of the present
invention to
provide a container for an engine oil that prevents spillage of the engine oil
while
the container is being positioned over a filling point of a vehicle's engine
and
placed in a pouring position.
In particular, it is a further object of at least one embodiment of the
present
invention to provide a container for an engine oil that allows a user of the
container to control the rate of flow of oil from the container in order to
reduce or
prevent spillage when the oil is poured into a vehicle's engine.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
pouring
device for a container, the pouring device comprising a first, rear portion
and a
second, front portion and means for retaining the device in association with a
container, wherein in a first non-pouring position the second portion is in
sealing
engagement w~h the container, while, in use, depressing of the first portion
causes at least part of the second portion to move from the first non-pouring
position to a second pouring position.
In use the component parts of the pouring device are not remotely separated.
This will therefore prevent the component parts of the device from being
misplaced.
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A user of a container having the pouring device of the present invention can
control the rate of flow of fluid or liquid from the container. Controlling
the rate of
flow of fluid or liquid from a container will allow a user to reduce or
prevent spillage
of the fluid or liquid.
A user of a container having the pouring device of the present invention can
also
position the container in its non-vertical, pouring position before any fluid
or liquid
leaves the container. This will therefore allow a user to prevent the fluid or
liquid
from prematurely leaving the container.
Advantageously a first hinge is provided between the first and second
portions.
A second hinge may also be formed at a rearmost end of the first portion.
The first portion may be of a bent planar form.
The second portion may have a pivot point provided thereupon spaced from the
first hinge.
Thus, in use, depression of the first portion may cause flexure of the first
hinge
thereby causing the second portion to pivot about the pivot point, the at
least part
of the second portion thereby being caused to move from the first non-pouring
position to the second pouring position.
Depression of the first portion is preferably achieved by the action of
downward
pressure of a user's thumb or finger on the first portion, preferably on a
thumb-receiving depression on the first portion.
Advantageously the device comprises a first body part which carries the first
and
second portions and preferably also a second body part which carries means for
retaining the device in association with the container.
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The first body part and the second body part preferably form a one-piece
component.
The first and second body parts may be retained in association with one
another
by a third hinge. _
Biasing means may be provided such that, in use, ceasing depression of the
first
portion causes the biasing means to urge the first and second portions to
readopt
the first non-pouring position.
The second portion may carry first and second lugs at the pivot point, which
lugs
are capable of being received within corresponding first and second recesses
formed in the second body part.
The second portion may carry sealing means which, when the second portion is
in
the first position cause a seal to be formed between the device and a pouring
aperture.
In a first embodiment the pouring aperture is not formed on the device but is
provided on the container.
In a second embodiment the pouring aperture is fomled on the second body part.
The sealing means may provide an inverted V-shaped slot at a front most
portion
thereof.
The device may incorporate an anti-glug device. The anti-plug device is
preferably integral with the pouring device.
The second body portion may carry one or more inwardly facing lugs or clips
which, in use, co-act with respective apertures or recesses formed in the
container
to retain the device and container together.
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Advantageously the device may provide tamper evident means, for example,
frangible tamper evident lugs formed between the first portion or second
portion
and the second body part, first depression of the first portion causing the
lugs to
shear. The tamper evident means is preferably clearly visible to a user.
The device may also provide a frangible transit lock, for example frangible
seals)
between the first and second body parts, which seals) islare broken by
depression of the second portion.
The device may also provide a locking mechanism for locking the second, front
portion in the non-pouring position. This locking mechanism will prevent
leakage
from the container when it is in transit or when it is in storage.
The device may be made of a moulded plastics material.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a
container including a pouring device according to the first aspect of the
present
invention.
The container may include a handle. The container may include two or more
handles.
In use, a user may hold the container with one hand and with a thumb~nger of
that hand depress the first portion of the device thereby causing the second
portion to move to the second position allowing pouring of contents of the
container. The container of the present invention can therefore be used with
just
one hand.
The container may be adapted for containment of liquids, and particularly
viscous
liquids.
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The container may be particularly adapted for contaminant of liquid
hydrocarbons,
for example, oil, and, in particular, engine oil.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method of
pouring contents from a container, the container including a pouring device .
according to the first aspect of the present invention, the method comprising:
holding the container with one hand;
depressing the first portion with a thumb/~nger of that hand whilst tipping
the container so as to pour at least part of the contents of the container;
and
releasing the first portion.
Advantageously releasing of the first portion causes the second portion to
readopt
the first non-pouring position thereby closing the container.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example
only with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are:
Fig. 1 a sectional side view of a first embodiment of a pouring device
according to the present invention in an assembled first, non-pouring
position fitted to a container;
Fig. 2 a partial sectional top view of the pouring device of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a perspective view to one side and above of the pouring device of
Fig. 1 in a disassembled position;
Fig. 4 (a) a schematic sectional side view of the pouring device of Fig. 1 in
the
first, non-pouring position;
Fig. 4 (b) a schematic sectional side view of the pouring device of Fig. 1 in
an
assembled second, pouring position;
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Fig. 5 a partial perspective view to one side and the rear of the pouring
device of Fig. 1 in the first position attached to a container;
Fig. 6 a partial perspective view to one side and the rear of the pouring
device of Fig. 1 in the second position attached to a container;
Fig. 7 a partial perspective view to the other side and the front of the
pouring device of Fig. 1 in the second position attached to a container;
Fig. 8 a partial perspective view to one side and the rear of a second
embodiment of a pouring device according to the present invention in a
first, non-pouring position attached to a container;
Fig. 9 a partial perspective view to the other side and the front of the
pouring device of Fig. 8 in a second, pouring position attached to a
container;
Fig. 10 a partial perspective view to one side and behind of the pouring
device of Fig. 8 in the second position attached to a container;
Fig. 11 a sectional side view of a third embodiment of a pouring device
according to the present invention in an assembled first, non-pouring
position;
Fig. 12 a sectional side view of the pouring device of Fig. 11 in an
assembled second, pouring position;
Fig. 13 a perspective view to one side and above of the pouring device of
Fig. 11 in a disassembled position;
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Fig. 14 a perspective view to the other side and below of the pouring device
of Fig. 11 in a disassembled position;
Fig. 15 a view from one side of the pouring device of Fig. 11 in the first
position; and
Fig. 16 a perspective view from one side above and to the rear of the
pouring device of Fig. 11 in the first position;
Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 7 there is illustrated a first embodiment of a
pouring
device, generally designated 5a, according to the present invention attached
to a
container 10a. The pouring device 5a comprises a first, rear portion 15a and a
second, front portion 20a and a means for retaining the device 5a in
association
with the container 10a, wherein, in a first non-pouring position A the second
portion 20a is in sealing engagement with the container 10a while, in use,
depressing of the ftrst portion 15a causes at least part of the second portion
20a
to move from the first position A to a second pouring position B.
A first living hinge 25a is provided between the first and second portions
15a, 20a.
Further a second living hinge 30a is formed at a rearmost end of the first
portion
15a. The first portion 15a is of an angled (arcuate) planar form, while the
second
portion 20a has a pivot point 35a provided thereupon spaced from the first
hinge
25a.
Thus, in use, depression of the first portion 15a causes flexure of the first
hinge
25a, thereby causing the second portion 20a to pivot about the pivot point
35a,
the at least part of the second portion 35a thereby being caused to move from
the
first non-pouring position A to the second pouring position B.
In this embodiment the device 5a comprises a first body part 40a which carries
the
first and second portions 15a, 20a and also a second body part 45a which
carries
the means for retaining the device 5a in association with the container 10a.
The
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first and second body parts 40a, 45a, are retained in association with one
another
by a third hinge 50a.
Biasing means in the form of a moulded spring 55a are provided such that, in
use,
ceasing depression of the first portion 15a causes the spring 55a to urge the
first-
s and second portions 15a, 20a to readopt the first non-pouring position A.
The second portion 20a carries first and second lugs 60a, 65a at the pivot
point
35a, which lugs 60a, 65a are capable of being received within corresponding
first
and second recesses 70a, 75a formed in the second body part 45a.
Further the second portion 20a carried sealing means 80a which, when the
second portion 20a is in the first position A cause a seal to be formed
between the
device 5a and a pouring aperture 85a. In this embodiment the pouring aperture
85a is not formed on the device 5a but is provided on the container 10a.
However, it should be appreciated that in a modification, such as in the
embodiment shown in Figs. 11 to 16, the pouring aperture 85a may be formed on
the second body part 45a.
In the first embodiment the sealing means 80a are in the form of a
frusto-cylindrical body providing an inverted V-shaped slot 90a at a front
most
portion thereof.
The second body part 45a carries a plurality of inwardly facing lugs or clips
95a
which, in use, co-act with respective aperture or recesses 100a formed in the
container 10a to retain device 5a and container 10a together.
The device 5a provides tamper evident means, comprising frangible tamper
evident lugs 105a formed between the first portion 15a (or second portion 20a)
and the second body part 45a, first depression of the first portion 15a
causing the
tamper evident lugs 105a to shear.
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The device 5a further provides a frangible transit lock comprising frangible
seals)
110a between the first and second body parts 40a, 45a, which seals) 110a
is/are
broken by depression of the second portion 20a.
The device 5a may be made in one piece of a suitable moulded plastics
material.
In use, a user may hold the container 10a with one hand by means of a handle
115a and with a thumb~nger of that hand depress the first portion 15a of the
device 5a thereby causing the second portion 20a to move to the second
position
B, allowing pouring of contents of the container 10a.
Due to provision of spring 55a releasing of the first portion 15a causes the
second
portion 20a to readopt the first non-pouring position A thereby closing the
container 10a.
Referring now to Figs. 8 to 10 there is illustrated a second embodiment of a
pouring device 5b according to the present invention attached to a container
10b.
Parts of the device 5b are identified by the same numerals as employed in the
device 5a of the first embodiment but suffixed with 'b' rather than 'a'.
The device 5b provides a tamper evident band 120c on the second portion 20b
and second body part 45b, which when the device 5b is used for the first time
breaks but is retrained on the second portion 20b.
Finally, referring to Figs. 11 to 16 there is illustrated a third embodiment
of a
pouring device 5c according to the present invention attached to a container
10c.
Parts of the device 5c are identified by the same numerals as employed in the
device 5a of the first embodiment but suffixed with 'c' rather than 'a'.
The device 5c is similar to the device 5a in many respects. However, the
device
5c provides an alternative form of moulded spring 55c, and further provides a
pouring aperture 85c integrally formed on the second body part 45c.
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It should be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore
described are given by way of example only and are not meant to limit the
scope
of the invention in any way.
